Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-C)

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-C) is an androgen, which is not associated with puberty. It is secreted and synthesized by the adrenal glands. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate refers to ketosteroids.

DHEA-C is synthesized for the most part from the ester of cholesterol sulfate. The major amount of androgen is catabolized and, as a rule, only ten percent goes with urine.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is not associated with specific proteins in the blood plasma, therefore, their concentration on the DHEA-C level is not affected. However, the steroid binds to albumin in the serum.

In addition to DHEA-S, the circulating blood contains dehydroepiandrosterone. Part of its formation occurs in the cortex of the adrenal glands, in part - the sex glands. In view of the fact that the metabolic clearance of DHEA is very fast, its concentration in comparison with DHEA-C is lower.

Due to the high concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, high stability and long half-life, and the fact that its source is mostly adrenal glands, the steroid is an excellent indicator of androgen secretion.

In addition to the adrenal cortex, in men, a small part of it (5%) is produced in the gonads. Women have no production in the ovaries. The concentration of this hormone reflects the androgen synthesis activity of the adrenal glands. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate has a slight androgenic effect. However, during its metabolism, occurring in peripheral tissues, dehydrotestosterone and testosterone are produced.

The clearance speed of DHEA-C is low. This indicator is used in diagnosing hyperandrogenic conditions that occur in women. These include baldness, hirsutism, frustration of reproductive function. In this case, hyperandrogenia can have an ovarian or adrenal origin. Thus, the endocrinological examination begins with the determination of the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone. Their elevated indices testify to hyperandrogenism of adrenal origin. In addition, the indicator is used in assessing the status of androgens against the background of delayed sexual development.

During pregnancy, the production of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate occurs in the adrenal cortex of the fetus and the mother. For the synthesis of estrogens in the placenta, the hormone is a precursor.

In pregnant women, the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the blood decreases moderately. By the time of puberty in children, his level increases, then gradually decreases with age.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is elevated when:

- congenital adrenal hyperplasia;

- Cushing's syndrome (disease) ;

- tumors of the adrenal cortex (values for cancer are higher than for adenomas);

- Polycystic ovary syndrome ;

- tumors with ectopic products;

- a veritable syndrome.

Reduced concentration of hormone is observed when:

- secondary and primary insufficiency in the adrenal glands;

- pregnancy;

- primary hypogonadism (castration, Klinefelter syndrome) in men;

- secondary hypogonadism (pituitary) in women;

- taking oral contraceptives;

- panhypopituitarism;

Osteoporosis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, the norm for men from 21 to 39 years is 1.0-4.2 μg / ml, for women from 19 to 39 years - about 8-2.9 μg / ml.

With an increased level of testosterone in women, determining the concentration of DHEA-C can determine whether the condition is associated with ovarian disease or with adrenal pathology. The levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increase only with adrenal pathologies. They include, in particular, tumors, hyperplasias and other diseases.